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This information is from an article in the Sept. 30, 2007 Lancaster Sunday News by Jon Rutter, "All Eyes On A Dog's Life"
"Jessie L. Smith started her job as Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement in Oct. 2006...over the past year, she said, the state has made strides by monitoring serious offenders more closely and prosecuting them more aggressively. Two weeks ago, the governor reassigned Mary Bender, the Chief of the Dept. of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, to a new farm land conservtion program- the ASPCA had long called for a Bureau shake -up, charging that the angency soft-pedals enforcement against kennels with habitual sanitary and other violations."
Four new dog wardens have been hired to go to the large, problematic kennels to work as a 'kennel compliance team' and focus on repeat offenders. The 59 existing dog wardens have been furnished with digital cameras, and a prosecutor, Jeffrey Paladina has been hired, whose primary responsibility is to aid wardens in preparing cases. Kennel inspections are being posted on-line so consumers can have access to this information.
"Sporting dog interests such as the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance have complained that the new regulations would paint with too broad a brush.
Smith said the state has reassured sportsmen in several meetings that it is not targeting hobby breeders or hunting related events."
"The agency received a record 1600 comments on the first draft (Dog Law) proposal, according to Smith"
Lancaster County has 296 licensed kennels. There are 77 kennels with more than 250 dogs.
"Jessie L. Smith started her job as Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement in Oct. 2006...over the past year, she said, the state has made strides by monitoring serious offenders more closely and prosecuting them more aggressively. Two weeks ago, the governor reassigned Mary Bender, the Chief of the Dept. of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, to a new farm land conservtion program- the ASPCA had long called for a Bureau shake -up, charging that the angency soft-pedals enforcement against kennels with habitual sanitary and other violations."
Four new dog wardens have been hired to go to the large, problematic kennels to work as a 'kennel compliance team' and focus on repeat offenders. The 59 existing dog wardens have been furnished with digital cameras, and a prosecutor, Jeffrey Paladina has been hired, whose primary responsibility is to aid wardens in preparing cases. Kennel inspections are being posted on-line so consumers can have access to this information.
"Sporting dog interests such as the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance have complained that the new regulations would paint with too broad a brush.
Smith said the state has reassured sportsmen in several meetings that it is not targeting hobby breeders or hunting related events."
"The agency received a record 1600 comments on the first draft (Dog Law) proposal, according to Smith"
Lancaster County has 296 licensed kennels. There are 77 kennels with more than 250 dogs.
